Chain guide for disintegrating apparatus



Oct. 13, 1953 L. s. ROLLINS CHAIN GUIDE FOR DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27. 1950 Invzzziar:

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CHAIN GUIDE FOR DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III n 1 7 l ,1 l

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Patented Oct. 13, 1953 CHAIN GUIDE FOR DI SINTEGRATING APPARATUS Lester G. Rollins, Franklin, Pa., asslgnor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 27, 1950, Serial No. 170,639

This invention relates to disintegrating apparatus, and more particularly to the disintegrating apparatus of continuous miners.

Continuous miners, in a well-known form, are provided with disintegrating (material attacking and disintegrating) apparatus or mechanisms which include elongated, relatively wide, verti cally movable frames about which a plurality of disintegrating element-carrying chains are circulated in like orbits. At the forward ends of the frames there are idler rollers for the support of the chains. Guiding and separating means for the chains as they pass around the idler rollers are provided, and it is to this portion of disintegrating mechanisms or apparatus that the invention particularly relates.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved disintegrating apparatus. Another object is to provide an improved disintegrating apparatus of the multiple chain type, having improved chain separating, restraining and guiding arrangements. A further object is to provide an improved guide and spacer element for the chains of disintegrating apparatus. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, in which there is shown one illustrative embodiment which the invention may assume in practice:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a disintegrating apparatus in which the invention is incorporated in its illustrative form, the disintegrating chains being omitted except for fragments of two of the same.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, no portions of the disintegrating chains being shown in this figure.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the forward frame member of the disintegrating apparatus, the idler roller for the chains being omitted.

Fig. e is a fragmentary sectional view on the plane of th line 44 of Fig. l, the disintegrating chains being shown in this View but in a different position relative to the bar structure.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section. on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 2, the disintegrating chains being shown in this view.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 6-45 of Fig. 2, the disintegrating chains being shown in this view.

Fig. 'l is a side elevational view of a chain and spacer element.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section on the planes of the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, the disintegrating chains being shown in this view but in a dif-- ferent position relative to the bar structure.

guide 3 Claims. 262-48) A The disintegrating mechanism shown, and generally designated D, is adapted to be used as a part of a Continuous Miner of the type shown in the application of John R. Sibley, Serial No. 1:02,996, filed July 5, 1949 for Apparatus for Continuous Mining. It includes a rearward frame member I of built-up construction and having side plates 2 terminating in eye portions 3 which are adapted to be mounted, as shown in said Sibley application, upon journal surfaces provided on a reciprocating frame (not shown here) which is advanced and retracted as sumping and withdrawing take place.

The rearward frame member I, having side plates 2, supports, in adjustable relationship to it, an outer or forward idler roller-supporting memher '4, having side plates 5 which, at their outer sides, desirably lie flush with th side plates 2 of the rearward frame member I. The side plates 5 of the adjustable idler roller-supporting member are provided with rearward guides 'I received in longitudinal guiding slots 8 in the sides of the rearward side plates 2. The guides I have longi tudinal slots 9 which are engaged by retaining blocks I0 secured, as by screws, to the forward ends of the side plates 2 of the rearward frame member I. The adjustable idler roller-supporting member 4 has parallel tubular elements it secured to its rearward or inner side, and slid ingly received in parallel longitudinal tubular guides I3 secured to transverse plates M, which rigidly brace the forward ends of the side plates 2 of the rearward frame member I. The tubular guides I3 are preferably welded to the transverse plates I4, and have parallel bores i3A in which the tubular elements I2 are received. The tubular elements I2 have threaded portions. eng'aged by adjusting screws I 6, and the screws have collars I'I engaging inwardly directed flanges til on the rearward ends of the tubular guides Iii.

the idler roller 25 as they pass around the outer end of the swingable bar structure i. By suitably adjusting the screws E5, the adjustable frame or idler roller-supporting member 4 may be adjusted outwardly along its guides relative There are shown in the drawings six disinte-- grating chains C, each composed of disintegrating element-carrying blocks 33- and connecting links 34, the blocks 33 each carrying a disintegrating element 35 and each having guide flanges or gibs 36.

Extending along upper and lower surfaces?! and 38 of the structure 1 are guide structures 43, each herein shown as including a narrower strip or bar element 4| adjacent one of thesurfaces mentioned, and'a wider outer stripdlprojecting out fromthe opposite sides of the elements M and spaced from the surfaces 31 or 33 as the case may be, withwhich they are'respectively associated, thus providing grooves 44, for receivingthe side flanges or gibs 35. The widths of the, elements 4i and, strips 42, which are held togther and, to the frame structure I as by screws 45, are such as to provide the desired, spacings betweenladjacent chains. The outer gibs on the side chains are held downby strips 43 secured to the side plates 2, 2.

Theforward idler roller-supporting frame has upper and lower surfaces and 52 thereon which lie in planes tangent to theidler roller andwhich arein the same planes with the upper and lower surfaces 31' and 38 respectively of the rearward frame member I. The frame portion on which the surface 5| is formed, extends further toward the pivot of the disintegrating;apparatus than does the portion on which the surface 52 is formed, and the first mentioned one of these portions overlaps with a surface 53 on the frame I to prevent disintegratedmaterials dropping through between the two frames which constitute the supports andguidesfor the disintegrating chains C. Each of thesurfaces 5i and 52 has secured toit positioning strips or ribs, those securedto the surface5l being numbered 55 and the othersbeing numbered 56; These strips are in line with the strips, 4| sand li secured to the 7 frame member I.

To guide the chains 0,, around the idler roller, there are providedguide and spacer elements 63;

These include substantially semicircular portions 5! and parallel portions 62 and 63, which extend substantially tangentially with respect to the por-- tions 6|. These members aregroovcd as at 6.4 alongthe inner sides, (the mutually adjacent sides) of their parallel portions 62 and 53, and thus are adapted to fit-over the strips 55 and 56 and to be positionedv by them laterally, The strips 55 and 56 and the walls of the grooves 64 are machined to provide good fitting. Threaded elements 65 pass through theportions 62 and 63 V and thestrips 55 and 55 to hold the elements 60 in position. The elements 69 are provided at their opposite sides with guide and wear strips 61,

' these being shown as made in three pieces, a,

portion 58 secured to the sides of the longer tangential portion 62, an arcuate portion 69 secured to the arcuate portion. 6|, and a shorter portion loisecured togthe shorter tangential por- Detachably secured, as by tion 63. These strips cooperate with the flanges or gibs 36 on the disintegrating element supporting blocks 33 and restrain and guide the latter as they approach, pass around, and move rearwardly from the idler roller.

It will be understood that the structure described provides for the effectiveguiding of the disintegrating chains, that the guiding means are located positively in the desired positions, that the number of parts employed is minimized and that the arcuate portions SI of the guiding devices may be located wholly out of contact with the guide roller and yet be securely held in position. A further very important advantage is that the members; 60, through the connections 55-, E4, and'56, 64' which constitute interlocking connections are prevented from shearing their holding screws, with the result that a much stronger and more durable structure is provided.

While there is in thi application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form ofthe same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or. the scope of the appended claims. 7

What I claimvas new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a disintegrating apparatus, in, combina; tion, aubar structure having at the forward end, thereof an elongatedyrotatably supported idler, roller and'having upper andlower chain guiding surfaces in planestangentto said roller, chain.

guides for disintegrating chains which include bit-carrying blocks having lateral surfaces and;

oppositely projecting flanges, each of said guides including a forward arcuate portion and rearwardly extending parallel portions, and means for securing said rearwardly extending parallel portions against lateral displacement relativeto said upper and lower chain guiding surfaces and to position said forward arcuate portion in 00- axial relation with said rollerincluding spaced parallel ribs on said chain, guiding surfaces,

grooves in said chain guides to fit over said-V ribs and'thereby laterally fix and space said guides with respect to each other and threadedholding elements extending through said chain guides between the sides of the grooves therein, said chain guide 'having on their laterally oppositefaces portions spaced from, said chain; guidingsurfaces andhaving lateral and inner surfaces and a forward idler; roller supporting member for supporting anidler roller, means for securing said, members together-in longitudinal alinement, each of said members having an upper chain guiding surface and said forward member.

having a lower chain guiding surface, said surfaces in-planes' tangent to a cylinder of'the diameter of an idler roller which said forward idler supporting member is adapted to support, parallel chain guides on the upper chain guiding surface of said rearward member, guide ribs on the upper chain guiding surface of said forward'member, and a plurality of arcuate chain guides each having a guide portion extending tangentially with respect to, the arc thereof, and means for holding said, guide portions against lateral dis-,

placement relative to said chain guiding surfaces including grooves one between the sides of each of said guide portions and each receiving one of said ribs.

3. As an article of manufacture, a unitary guide and spacer element for arrangement between disintegrating chains which include bitcarrying blocks having lateral surfaces and oppositely projecting flanges, said element including an arcuate portion and parallel tangential portions, said parallel tangential portions grooved longitudinally in their mutually adjacent faces to provide recesses adapted for engagement with positioning ribs on a bar structure on which the chains are guided, and said arcuate portion and said parallel tangential portions having secured to their lateral surfaces and in spaced relation LESTER G. ROLLINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,460,076 Oldroyd June 26, 1923 1,901,522 Meier et al Mar. 14, 1933 1,910,534 Glasner May 23, 1933 1,951,514 Lovely Mar. 20, 1934 2,304,505 Morrow Dec. 8, 1942 2,336,351 Flowers Dec. 7, 1943 2,561,657 Fulke July 24, 1951 

